# Best Xmas songs ( No carols)/ Who does the best versions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 23, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429 "2008-12-23T11:54:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/21 "2008-12-24T21:40:27Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > Carols are religious in general while Xmas songs are not. So the song “Caroling Caroling Through the Snow” would not be a carol, then? 🙂 You may be alone in making that distinction…the American Heritage Dictionary says: 1. A song of praise or joy, especially for Christmas. (from the same root as “choral”.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/22 "2008-12-25T02:04:51Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > Happy Christmas (War is over) - John Lennon You should check out the version by The Moody Blues. > [@DfrntBreign](#): > > 1. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Various Artists (sorry but that’s what it says) If you want to correct that, here’s how it’s listed on the jewel case: Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, Tracy CHapman, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, John Popper, Run DMC, Vanessa Williams. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/23 "2008-12-25T03:02:32Z")
_Hellhound On My Trail_ [Robert Johnson](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/robert-johnson-hellhound-on-my-trail-lyrics.html) wrote it, by I like [Cassandra Wilson’s](http://www.last.fm/music/Cassandra+Wilson/_/Hellhound+on+My+Trail) version better. If today was Christmas Eve If today was Christmas Eve and tomorrow was Christmas Day If today was Christmas Eve and tomorrow was Christmas Day spoken: Aow, wouldn’t we have a time, baby? ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/24 "2008-12-25T06:24:46Z")
I think the best versions are All I want for Christmas is you Mariah Carey Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire) – Nat King Cole Frosty the Snowman - Gene Autry Have yourself a merry little Christmas - Judy Garland Happy Christmas (War is over) - John Lennon Here comes Santa Claus - Gene Autry I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus - Jacksons It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Dean Martin Jingle bell rock - Bobby Helms Jingle bells - Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters Last Christmas – Wham Let it snow let it snow - Vaughan Monroe Mele Kalikimaka – Bing Crosby Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer - Gene Autry Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry Santa Claus is coming to town Winter wonderland - Perry Como Wombling Merry Christmas - Wombles Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/25 "2008-12-25T06:46:30Z")
The Christmas Song - Tom Lehrer Green Chri$tma$ - Stan Freberg Blue Xmas - Miles Davis and Bob Dorough ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/26 "2008-12-25T22:29:53Z")
[I Believe in Father Christmas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqOfXumI18A)- Greg Lake ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/27 "2008-12-25T22:35:05Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > …If you want to correct that, here’s how it’s listed on the jewel case: Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, Tracy CHapman, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, John Popper, Run DMC, Vanessa Williams. Hey, thanks. This is the kind of thing that makes me love this place. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/28 "2008-12-25T22:40:09Z")
Blue Christmas - Elvis The First Noel - Emmylou Harris O Holy Night - Aaron Neville ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/29 "2008-12-26T00:25:32Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > My favorite “All I Want For Christmas is You” is the version from the film Love Actually, sung by Olivia Olson. I like that version too and was very surprised to find out the actress in the film was the actual singer…and 10 years old, at the time. Remarkable. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/30 "2008-12-26T05:22:29Z")
As far as I’m concerned, Lorrie Morgan did the definitive version of _Sleigh Ride_. ---
**Author:** ![Gwyen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/858c86/32.png) [@Gwyen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gwyen)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/31 "2008-12-26T05:35:35Z")
How about Santa Baby by Maryiln Monroe. A little silly I guess, but I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429/32 "2008-12-26T05:36:32Z")
I like Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby,” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-xmas-songs-no-carols-who-does-the-best-versions/478429.md?page=1)